The idea of indie authenticity died in 2002, when the Shins sold "New Slang", their pitch perfect spaghetti western melancholia, to McDonald’s. With hip hop always open for business and one of the most emotional indie ballads of the year embracing the uber glyph of Corporate evil, it was clearly time to shift quaint notions of selling out. This wasn’t a bad thing, especially since the internet had depleted one of the primary revenue streams for musicians, making such strident morality financially inconveniencing. The part of the Lana Del Rey debate that revolves around the a variation of reviving these tired authenticity arguments skewers her for having an orchestrated image, as if everyone from Prince to Elvis Presley didn’t morph into pop stars by angling themselves into our fantasies. more ›

Flood waters threaten thousands in southern Mexico. Hurricane Noel will bring heavy rainfall to the East Coast. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice begs U.S. Diplomats to serve overseas. NASA plans a risky spacewalk to save a ripped solar wing at the international space station. Hollywood writers are set to declare a strike sometime today. Get ready for a reality television blitz! NBC Anchor Brian Williams is hosting SNL this week. The reunion show... more ›

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